Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-12
PLYMOUTH CHURCH IN DISTRESS. MT. Berry Declines To Become Hts
 PastOrs

MT. Berry Declines T0 BecOme AtS
 Pastor.
 NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-The small congrega- tiop present at Plymouth church in Brook lyn this morning was unpleasantly surprised by Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott's announcement from the pulpit that Rev. Charles A. Berry of Wolverhampton, England, had declined the call extended to him by Plymouth church. After lengthy predatory remarks in which he deplored the announcement he had te make Dr. Abbott enlightened the audi ence, not half dozen of whom knew what was coming, by reading the following cable gram to Professor Rossiter W. Raymond:
 "Charles Albert Berry greets Plymouth, ,ap- preciates it's confidence, reeiprocates it's af- lection, prays for it's prosperity, but cannot accept pastorate Home claims inexorable, duty here commands. Letter mailed you God bless and guide you"
 Much excitement followed the announce ment. Several ladies in the congregation gave way to their feelings in tears.
 pr. Berry,s Reasons for Declining.
 LONDON, Dec. 11.-Rev. MT. Berry has de- clined the call to Plymouth church. The de- cision Aas announced from the pulpit of the Queen street chapel in Wolverhampton to- day MT. Berry in letter which was read to the congregation referred to the Plymouth pulpit as one of world wide influence, there being associated with it in undying lustre the glory of famous name. The question of acceptance, he said, had to be decided under rigorous exclusion of all party, local and personal interests. The charge could be taken only under the sacred sanction of duty to religion and humanity. The broad ques- tion thus submitted to him had been the oc- ] casion of Iono perplexityzand study. He gratefully acknowledged thezcounsel of mem l bers of the congregation and some trusted | leaders of English national life. Their rep resentations concurred in referring to the growing need in England of broad eVangel- | ical pulpit which would make religion cred- itable and effective in solving pressing prob@ \ leIns The proposal of the congregation to ! give him additional help in his pastorate of | fered him chance for national work in \ England. Although the call to Plymouth church was strong one he felt that he must ! remain in England, giving on at any cost | with the work to which he had consecrated his life He trusted that his decision would E meet with approval and that the brethren in I America would conquer the regret.
 l I Death of am Infant Freak
 NEW YORK, Dec. 11.-Matilda Buhrer, six weeks old, born without legs, thighs or hip bones and without left arm, died yesterday
 at 252 West Thirty- second street. The ehild's parents were John and Matilda Buh- rsr. The mother is thirty-three years old. She attributes the strange, birth to fright 1 which she received about seven months be- fore her confinement. Going to work one
 morning, she says, she ohancsd to meet sud. %d .
 denly crippled beggar on the street. The ID man was legless and had only one arm. The
 apparition haunted her all day, and when
 she returned home at night she told her bus band about the matter and told him how
 greatly she had been frightened.
 II High License in nPhiIadelphia.
 PHnADELPH1A, Dec. 1.-The new higt
 license law passed by the last legislature
 promises to drive out of the liquor business
 not only those who cannot afford to pay tn, $506 fee, but also many wealthy dealers wh' will find it impossible to secure the ne
 cessary bonds to become responsible fo their faithful compliance with the law
 Up to the close of business yesterday onl $50 applications for licenses for next yea
 had been filed with the clerk of the quarte
 sessions. This is considered small numbe I in view of the fact that there are about si ! thousand saloons in the city.